JOOP
KOCH
of
Eindhoven
talking
to Les J. Parkinson
I
have written a few articles for the Gazette on winning fanciers and
since I wrote them I have started doing the Q & A series. This article
is a follow up on one of the continental Gentleman of the sport, a real
nice fancier who you can sit down and talk to at length about the sport
and cover many points that would be worth listening too. I first met
Joop when Hans Verschueren took us to his lofts in Holland and at that
time I did a report for the Gazette. Then we met up with him again in
Belgium and after a discussion I decided to try and prise a bit more
information from him via the Questions and Answers series. The benefit
is that he is now on the Internet so we could send the article too and
from until we got it something like. I am not going to go into the ins
and outs of the visits because I shall leave it all to the answers submitted
by Joop. [previous
article on Joop Koch]
Joop Koch
Q.
Please introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in pigeon
racing?
A. , Joop Koch, 1999 winner of two National Championships in Holland,
as well as being the Versele-Laga World Champion. Also winner in 1995
of the middle distance Nat. Championship. I first started up like many
more pigeon fanciers when a stray that was an injured and I picked her
up in the street. I treated her, found her a cock bird and went on from
there.
Q.
Give the readers the basic results that you have achieved?
A.. 1st Overall World Champion WK Versele-Laga, 1st National Ace Sprint
Holland, 3rd National Ace Mid-Fond Holland, 1st Champion One-Day Long
Distance FC Zuiderkempen Aang 2 and 1st Golden AFD Champion, 4,000 members,
Oost Brabant. We shall leave it at that, even though there are many
more national and international awards credited to this excellent fancier.
However, I must mention that in the last 14 years Joop has won 12 x
1sts General Championship of the CC Eindhoven, 550 members. Joop is
also winner of 2nd General Championship Versele-Laga 1997 and 1st National
Champion of Holland 1995. In fact, he has won 3 National Championships?
done only once before, by Bert Camphuis. This is no flash-in-the-pan
loft, as you can see. There is an excellent pigeon worth a few lines
and that is Blauwe Favoriet, which in 1999 won 1st National Sprint Holland,
3rd Ace Pigeon National Mid-Fond Holland and 3rd As Doffer WHZB Holland.
1998 was also a good year for this cock with 1st Ace Pigeon Youngsters
of CC Eindhoven, 550 members. A full brother (055) of Blauwe Favoriet
won 9th National Ace Mid-Fond. Another full brother "Jonge As"107
won: 1997 1st Ace Young Birds Middle distance club Oost Brabant (4000
members),In 1998 28e Sprint World Champion. In 1999 2nd.Ace Pigeon Long
distance. C.C.Eindhoven (550 M) and 4th Golden Crack Long distance club
Fondclub Zuid Nederland (4000 members) .And in 2000 1st.Ace pigeon C.C.Eindhoven
and 3rd Golden Crack Fondclub Zuid Nederland.
Q.
Amongst those results what are the real highlights?
A. 1st Overall World Champion 1999. But I made a big mistake on sending
in the results otherwise the "Blauwe Favoriet". That won 1st
World champion sprint and I still would of won 1st. Overall Champion.
The 3 1st National Championships, because only one fancier in Holland
did that before (B.Camphuis).
Q.
What organisations do you race with?
A. CC Eindhoven, 550 members, Midfondclub Oost Brabant, 4000 members,
Fondclub Zuiderkempen 4000 m, Fondclub Zuid Nederland, +/- 10000 m,
(This is the Golden Ring club, Only pigeons with Golden Rings can win
money and Championship.). On a weekly basis against +/-2.500 (sprint),
4000 (middle distance).
Q.
Do you ever think about competing for averages?
A. Never because if you push to hard you can lose your way and the National
results will not be s good.
Q.
How do you race your pigeons and how many?
A. 16 cocks for the short and middle-distance widowhood and from 2002,
24 for the widowhood 500 to 700km long-distance and 10 pairs for 2 days
long distance (1000 km).
Q.
What are your lofts made of and how big are they?
A. Before 2001 I raced 12 cocks on widowhood for 2 day long distance
and only 12 cocks for long distance 500-700 km). After 2001: Wood 12
meter total , Section 1 220 cm -16 cocks short, middle distance S2,
165 cm -12 cocks long distance (500-700 km) S3, 165 cm-12 cocks long
distance (500-700 km) S4, 165 cm- 10 Pairs on nest for 2 day long distance
(850-1000 km).
Q.
Do you attach any importance to having a tiled roof on a loft, if so
are there any benefits?
A. Yes, The temperature is more stable, when it is very hot I put sticks
between the tiles to allow a better flow of air which makes the lofts
much fresher.
Q.
How many stock birds do you keep and do you breed off your race team
also how many pigeons do you think that you need to breed off any individual
stock pair each year to see if they are quality producers?
A.. From 2001 I have 16 pairs. Of the race team consisting of 40 widowhood
cocks and 6 hens, I breed only off a few best racers 4 per pair. The
stock is class? With a racing team specially prepared for the long-distance
events.
Q.
When do you pair your pigeons?
A. +/- 7th January. I think if the pigeons are separated for about 6-7
weeks between the 1st breed and the second they will not moulting fast.
Also by this time the youngsters will be a little bit stronger at the
beginning of the season if you pair up early in the year. I would love
to pair up a few weeks earlier but that is not possible (holiday with
family).
Q.
Do you move the hens with the young birds?
A. Yes, the last two years I move the hens with the half of the young
birds, the other half stay's with the cock.(16 days old). I do not like
it when the cock is drive again. It is not good for his rest and the
youngsters will not be feted as on the separated way. The youngsters
are moved at 24 days and are left on the open hole, this helps them
to settle around the loft while they are at that early learning stage.
Then, until they are 4 to 5 months old, they are fed a good breeding
mix ? up to 2 weeks prior to the start of the racing season and they
then have a light mix twice a day.
Q.
What criteria do you set down for the pigeons you winter with your thoughts
on the following seasons racing and breeding?
A. Not only do they have to perform well but the weather conditions
are also taken into account, the breeders are mostly ex super racers
or they are breed of a super pair.
Q.
Do you have any grills fitted in the floor or in the boxes, are there
any advantages to using them?
A. No.
Q.
What do you think about the vaccination programme for the pigeons and
do you think it affects the pigeons long term?
A. Paramixo:I think 2 injections in the first 2 years are enough, but
in Holland they have to be injected every year. Paratyphus: If you inject
your pigeons every year there will be no problem.
Q.
Do you attach any importance to grits and minerals or can the pigeons
get what they want they are out of the loft?
A. Yes, I give that fresh a few times weekly the hens need it when they
making their eggs. You can see if pigeons return from a tough race they
eat a lot of grit.
Q.
Do you use any floor dressing or do you clean the pigeons out daily?
A. Straw at the young loft, I like it when young cocks and hens make
nests on the straw and they are very motivated on their nests. When
you see them laying on the straw they look very comfortable. The other
lofts are cleaned out everyday widowhood cocks are already motivated
on their cell.
Q.
Do you like to have plenty of room for the pigeons?
A. I would like more space but my garden is not big enough so maybe
there are to many pigeons in the loft
It made no difference, but I changed the roof a little bit, so they
get more fresh air. With less pigeons it is easier to observe your birds
(nominating) Because I like to race all categories, I need more pigeons.
16 cocks for the short and middle-distance widowhood and from 2002,
24 for the widowhood 500 to 700km long-distance and 10 pairs for 2 days
long distance (1000 km).
Q.
How do you feed the cocks and what do you feed them on?
A. The feeding system starts on the Saturday when they return from the
race. My feed contains 20% sunflower seed, 20% hemp, 40% Diät.
On a Sunday morning they have Diät; evening 50% Diät, 50%
Koch/Bosmolen. Monday morning's feed is made up of Sunday's mix added
to 25% maize and 5% hemp seed. This is then fed until Wednesday evening.
On Thursday morning a blend of 50% of the previous mixture is put with
Bosmolen PLX Super race mixture and fed until the racers go into the
basket on Friday evening. This system is for the short races up to 300km
but for the 300 to 500km races the mixture introduced on Thursday will
be brought forward and started on Wednesday and so on. For the longer
races (between 600 and 1,000km) the Thursday mix is given on Tuesday.
During racing, the shorter-distance racers also receive a spoonful of
hemp and sunflower seed on Thursday and Friday.
Q.
Do you measure the amount that you give to each pigeon, or are they
fed according to the individual pigeon?
A. Feeding is done communally in troughs. In the sleeping season I give
the rest next morning. In the race season I give it to the widow hens.
Q.
Do you think loft position makes any difference to your performances?
A. I live in the middle of the C.C.Eindhoven and my pigeons have won
a lot of first prizes but on the shortest races the wind and than of
course the position is very important. If I was a bachelor I would move
but with having family responsibility's you cannot always do what you
want.
Q.
Do you consider there to be any advantage having a racing partnership?
A. Sure there is, there will be more time for a holiday and other things
with your family. You also have someone to share the workload and expenses
but I do not race in a partnership. I have always raced on my own and
achieved good results so I do not see any point in changing.
Q.
Are there any general points that you disagree with in the every day
running of the sport in your own area?
A. I disagree the drinking opportunity in our pigeon transporter, the
troughs are 35 centimetres (1/3 meter) but there is room for 1 metre.
I asked for a several times to make them bigger because they are not
good enough for the pigeons. Changes need to be made to make the drinking
facilities better for the pigeons.
Q.
Whenever I have visited a loft fanciers always look at the pigeons eye.
Do you consider that the eye has any importance in (a) the breeding,
(b) distance races (c) sprint races. (d) the pigeons health. Or do you
steer clear of the subject and if so why?
A. I do not think the colour is important. But there must be some colour
in the eye you can see the health.
Q.
Do you use any preventative medication?
A. Ronidazol against canker (some times Emtryl) Suanovil against head
diseases, you must keep ahead of any problems if you want to win races.
Q.
How many weeks do you think a pigeon can maintain it's form on the widowhood
system for both cocks and hens?
A. 12 weeks, it depends on weather conditions during the races. After
a bed weather race also cold (rain) I use under floor heating and also
a new ATX-Flachtherm wall-heating system. You can help them a little
bit with some vitamins. This also includes the longer races.
Q.
Does this include the longer races or are the specified number of weeks
for sprint races and do you think that a pigeon can be prepared at fortnightly
intervals for the longer races?
A. For 100 to 750 km.(1 day races) For the very long races you have
to look from race to race. From a long (1000 km) race pigeons can suffer
a lot.
Q.
Do you think a pigeon has the capabilities of racing both short and
long distance races. Also what distance can a pigeon actually still
"RACE" as opposed to homing from any race point?
A. Yes, one of my best cock 97-9785107 ("Jonge As" Son of
Lichte Orleans) was as a yearling my best short distance cock, 100 to
800 km.
Q.
What proportion of your pigeons get better on subsequent trips to the
long distance races and what do you call distance?
A.30% of my pigeons are another kind of pigeons as the short-middle
and 1-day long distance pigeons. They only perform well if the races
are further as 700 km. About 1000 km is their best distance.
Q.
Which is the more difficult, establishing a team of sprinter's or distance
pigeons and why. Can you add more detail to this answer?
A. To stay at the top it is the same for both teams, but for the very
long races you have to look from race to race. From a long (1000 km)
race pigeons can suffer a lot. If a pigeon was in the rain at night
and it was cold, and that pigeon have to fly the second day 400 km again
it can take long still he or se will be recovered.
Q.
Sprinter or distance, there is no difference, it is all in the feeding.
But what is the difference in the feeding?
A. Sure there is because most of the two day race birds are too slow
for sprint racing. About the feeding: I give the sprinters a light mixture
and only on the day before basking a little bit of grease, like sunflower
seed (shield). The distance pigeons are fed a much heavier feed 5-6
days before the basking and a few days of sunflower seed and more for
each pigeon.
Q.
Taking into account distance, which is more difficult racing to your
area, is it a case of a 600ml race is a 600ml race regardless of competition
or route. Does the organisation that you compete with make a difference?
A. On a national race the wind direction is important so also the route.
No, they will make no difference.
Q.
What families of pigeons do you keep?
A. The origin of the pigeons goes back to 1973, with the first stock
coming from Jan Zoontjes, then after that some young birds were brought
in to keep the lines going. After a few years, Joop brought in further
stock from Wal Zoontjes, Then in 1993 he brought in further additions
that had the pigeons of Jan van Steensel of Arendonk in their pedigrees,
with the origin being Houben x William Geerts. He also had a few pigeons
from Stan Raemaecker, which are the Chanel x Jose lines of Jan van de
Water of Eindhoven and Heesters Bros of Reusel stock. For the very long-distance
races I have also brought in the Frans van Wel of Bakel lines, which
are more for the 2-day races. With these lines the loft is now made
up of 60% Jan & Wal Zoontjes, 30% Houben x Geerts from the Jan van
Steensel loft, 5% Stan Raemaecker lines and 5% Heesters Bros. The long-distance
birds of Frans van Wel of Bakel of Holland are kept pure.
Q.
How do you go about bringing in a new family and what do you look for?
A. I try to get some of the best breeders from the best fanciers and
give the youngsters 2 years to prove themselves. If they are as good
as my best birds I cross them.
Q.
Early in the article we discussed the wind direction, do you consider
that good pigeons will win in any position?
A. Only the real crack can, my "President" was 4 times the
fastest bird of about 25.000 in 1 season, all 4 races with different
wind directions.
Q.
Some fanciers go out and purchase good quality winning pigeons but never
appear to make the grade, why do you consider that this happens. Is
there any advice that you can give with such purchases?
A. They make more mistakes then the good fanciers, they have to listen
a lot to good fanciers, read a lot and be consequent on establishing
the pigeons. Do not change the system a lot in the season.
Q.
Do you give any special treatments when the pigeons return from the
race as a precaution against anything that they may have picked up in
the basket. Do you think that fanciers make a mistake by not treating
them when they return from a race and why, can you explain?
A. A. Ronidasol against canker (some times Emtryl). Suanovil against
head diseases, for about 1 1/2-2 days
If you never treat them after a race, you are gambling. Maybe the best
will be to go from time to time to a good (pigeon) animal doctor for
control.
Q.
Which of the two sexes do you consider is the most important when it
comes to breeding?
A.50%-50% because they both have to put something into the breeding
of their offspring. You do need to have them matched.
Q.
Some fanciers like big hens for breeding does the size of the hen make
any difference to the quality of youngsters that she breeds in your
past experience. But have you noticed any difference with big or small
pigeons paired together and if so why?
A. I breed good pigeons of all sizes pigeons, I never paired small to
small or big to big.
Q.
Is there anything that you have not won in the sport that you would
like to achieve. How close have you been to achieving that win?
A. The 1st prize on a National 2 day race In 1994 the 2nd on Orleans.
In Holland we have only nat. races on the 2 day long distance races
and from Orleans. I won from Orleans in a few Years 2-3-5. So I was
very close. On the 2 day races the 9th was the closest.
Q.
Who do you consider to be the best fanciers in the Country and for what
reasons?
A. De klak of reusel,and Jan Zoontjens of Riel.They raced super all
their life and a lot of fanciers perform very wel with pigeons of them,
also Frans van Wel of Bakel All his racers have been stolen for 3 years
but he is racing super again This year 80% price and a lot at the top
of the list.
Q.
What do you think can be done to take the sport forward?
A. Championships like World Championship of Versela Laga before one
loft races full sponsorship,
What they try to do at the W.P.C. is also good for publicity.
Q.
Are there any special treatments that you give your birds once the season
has finished what do you recommend the readers to do with the birds?
A. I give in the sleeping season a paratyphus cure, a few weeks before
the race season is starting I treat the pigeons against canker and head
diseases .
Q.
When it comes to breeding do you line-breed or use a first cross or
just pair winners to winners?
A. I do line breed but every year I cross some pigeons and give the
youngsters 2 years to prove their worth because I only have a small
set up compared to many other top winning lofts. If they are as good
as my best birds I cross them, and of course also winners to winners.
Q.
Do you breed off the top widowhood cocks after the racing has finished,
do you breed late bred youngsters and what do you think of those later
bred youngsters?
A. I breed before the race season (for myself). Late youngsters are
very good for breeding, but if you like to race with them.
B. Have to train them all winter and race them from the beginning with
the old pigeons.
Q.
If your race team went off form during the season what action would
you take to restore their condition?
A. Now and then a free flight with youngsters or a few hens to get them
going that little bit more, or training about 30 km on Wednesday and
after the training a hen for a half hour.
Q.
Is a favourable loft location the single biggest factor in sprint racing?
A. It is a big factor but the quality of the pigeons is number one.
It depends on how big the area is where you are racing in .In our C.C.Eindhoven
the farthest distance is 12 km. Only on sprint, on middle distance it
is 17 km.
Q.
Do you use the darkness system for the young birds, if so for how long
and do you think it affects them later in life?
A. The youngsters are put on the darkness system from 7 to 15 weeks
of age. No I think not because all my ace pigeons have been in the darkness
system. A lot of fanciers are darkening to long (3 or even 4 months).
Some years I can not race all my young birds on the end of the season,
(8 weeks is a bit short) but I always get all young birds through the
moult.
Q.
Are there any feeding methods for the young birds i.e. do you break
them down, do you keep them hungry for control purposes, do you give
them a trapping seed mix?
A. I feed the Youngsters the same as the cocks. On hungry only for 2
weeks for control and never on hungry during the season.
Q.
What percentage do you consider it takes to win with racing pigeons
for Management and pigeons and why. This question means how much is
it down to the pigeons and how much to you as the fancier?
A. Pigeons 80% and fancier 20%. Without a good quality of pigeons you
can not win, but if you have the good pigeons, and listen careful to
good fanciers (honest fanciers) you can win.
Q.
What is the farthest distance that you would train your old birds or
young birds and why?
A. About 40 miles both, it takes a lot of time, I have to work and I
think, when they train about one hour, it is more than enough.
Q.
If random drugs tests were carried out on your pigeons, would it reveal
any substance, illegal or otherwise?
A. I do not think so, as far as I am aware nothing in the products that
I use is forbidden, I am not a chemist so I would not know unless I
had them tested. As far as I am concerned the answer to the question
is no.
Q.
How do you consider that the British sport is going compared to the
continentals and do they have any ideas that you think would benefit
the sport in the UK?
A. In a result list of a race in the British sport there are to little
pigeons ho win points. For the Championship points in Holland we count
1 to 5 (on 10.000 pigeons, 2.000 can win Championship points) A lot
of fanciers in U.K do not like our Championship system .
Q.
Is pigeon racing as a hobby going beyond the average working man. Is
it becoming too technical and complicated or can you keep everything
simple and still win with the pigeons?
A. For a working man it is better to specialise, on short and middle
distance. Or on long distance races .You can still win with a simple
system, be sure the health is good also that the pigeons quality is
good.
Q.
You are successful fanciers, there are far too many leaving the sport,
to encourage fanciers to either join or stay in the sport what do you
think about limiting prizes to two per race per loft. If not Why. If
yes Why?
A. Maybe in your system it will help. In Holland it is also a problem
(if every year the same fanciers win the most money a lot of fanciers
stop putting money on their pigeons. But concerning championships, a
lot of combines have a first and second division.
Q.
Do you think winning fanciers should move on from club racing once they
have reached a certain level of consistency. Are club performances paramount
for personal satisfaction or sales purposes?
A. In Holland it is not possible to move .For me: I never mention the
club results, only of Eindhoven (500 breeders) or bigger.
Q.
Do you attach any real importance to the pigeons wing i.e. back wing,
end four flights and do you look at the wing to see if they have cast
before a race. Any other comments on the wing?
A. I like the end four flights to be a little longer, and a short back
wing. I do not look to see if they have cast before a race. For a few
years I looked always, But made a lot of mistakes by nominating .It
happened that a cock did cast 2 flights at once (3rd and 4th, or 4th
and 5th) and then he was my first cock.
Q.
Do you use any form of heating system in any of your lofts. Do you think
it would be advantages for the birds?
A. After a bad weather race (rain) I use Bottom heating. And also a
new ATX-Flachtherm wall-heating system 'The system is very easy to install
and gets up to full heat within 2 minutes. A big benefit is that it
uses only 50% of the fuel, compared to normal heating. This is not an
oxygen-burning system and works as the sun does, warming up man and
animal and not the air. This system was developed for the space industry
so is not bulky. Each plate is only 1,5mm thick. The birds will recover
fast.
Q.
Do the pigeons need any special treatment on their return from the race
to help them relax. Is any such treatment needed for the short or long
distance races or the hard races compared to the easy races?
A. By cold weather again I use Bottom heating and also a new ATX-Flachtherm
wall-floor heating system, this is as good as anything to get the pigeons
back into condition. Warmth is always good for the pigeons. For the
majority of the racing season the lofts are also darkened to keep the
widowhood cocks quiet, unless there is a lack of form, when they need
their level of interest raised.
Q.
Irrespective of how your pigeons have flown, what are your views on
the past season whether good or bad or the management of the sport in
general?
A. In the last season I won in C.C.Eindhoven (500 Members). 2nd short
distance. 1st long distance (500-720 km. 1st total old pigeons. 1st
General Champion Ace pigeons. 2nd short distance, (655 Son of Lichte
Orleans) 1st total old pigeons. (655) 1st Long distance (405 grandson
of Lichte Orleans) About the middle distance I hat bad luck. On one
of my best races the electronic system failed and all my nominated pigeons
where gone. My young birds were not healthy enough at the first half
of the season, but later on they performed well. It looks as if they
had something like E-coli.
Les.
That's about it for another article and many and once again
many thanks to Joop for taking time out to answer the questions and
no doubt we shall meet up again in the near future.
